psych Cheatsheet by Felipe Hermosillo

Understanding Psychological Disorders

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

Definition: Intense fear of social situations where one could be scrutinized by others, leading to significant distress and impairment in daily life.

Symptoms: Fear of judgment, avoidance of social interactions, physical symptoms like blushing, sweating, trembling in social settings.

Diagnostic Criteria: Persistent fear of social situations lasting six months or more, causing significant distress or impairment.

Common triggers: Public speaking, eating in public, meeting new people.

Prevalence: Affects approximately 7% of the US adult population.

Treatment: Therapy (CBT), medication (SSRIs, SNRIs).

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)

Definition: Preoccupation with perceived defects or flaws in physical appearance that are not noticeable or appear minor to others.

Symptoms: Repetitive behaviors (mirror checking, excessive grooming), seeking reassurance, comparing appearance to others.

Diagnostic Criteria: Preoccupation causes significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Common Concerns: Skin, hair, nose, stomach. Can focus on one or multiple body areas.

Prevalence: Estimated to affect 1-2% of the population.

Treatment: Therapy (CBT), medication (SSRIs).

ADHD & OCD

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Definition: Neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Symptoms: Difficulty focusing, forgetfulness, fidgeting, excessive talking, interrupting others.

Diagnostic Criteria: Symptoms present before age 12, occurring in multiple settings (e.g., home and school), and causing significant impairment.

Types: Predominantly Inattentive, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive, Combined.

Prevalence: Affects about 5-10% of children and 2.5% of adults.

Treatment: Medication (stimulants, non-stimulants), therapy (behavioral therapy), educational interventions.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Definition: Characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that drive repetitive behaviors (compulsions) to reduce anxiety.

Symptoms: Obsessions (e.g., fear of contamination, need for symmetry), compulsions (e.g., washing, checking, counting).

Diagnostic Criteria: Obsessions and/or compulsions are time-consuming (taking more than 1 hour per day) or cause significant distress or impairment.

Common Obsessions: Contamination, harm, order, unwanted thoughts.

Prevalence: Affects approximately 1% of adults and 1-2% of children and adolescents.

Treatment: Therapy (Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), CBT), medication (SSRIs).

Treatment Approaches

Deinstitutionalization

Definition: The process of replacing long-stay psychiatric hospitals with less isolated community mental health services.

Goal: To integrate individuals with mental illness into society and provide them with more humane and effective treatment.

Challenges: Lack of adequate community resources, homelessness, revolving door phenomenon (hospital readmissions).

Impact: Increased individual autonomy but also potential for increased vulnerability without sufficient support.

Key Services Needed: Housing, job training, mental health clinics, case management.

Cognitive & Behavioral Approaches

Cognitive Approaches: Focus on identifying and changing maladaptive thought patterns and beliefs. Example: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)	Behavioral Approaches: Focus on changing maladaptive behaviors through techniques like exposure therapy and reinforcement. Example: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD
Techniques (Cognitive): Cognitive restructuring, thought records, challenging automatic thoughts.	Techniques (Behavioral): Exposure hierarchies, systematic desensitization, token economies.
Goal (Cognitive): To develop more realistic and adaptive thinking patterns.	Goal (Behavioral): To reduce or eliminate maladaptive behaviors and increase adaptive ones.

Psychotherapy & Pharmaceuticals

Pharmaceuticals

Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs):
Used to treat depression, anxiety disorders, OCD, and BDD. Increase the availability of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.

Anti-anxiety Medications (Benzodiazepines):
Used for short-term relief of anxiety symptoms. Enhance the effects of GABA, a neurotransmitter that inhibits brain activity.

Stimulants (Methylphenidate, Amphetamine):
Used to treat ADHD. Increase dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain.

Antipsychotics:
Used to treat psychotic disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Affect dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitter systems.

Mood Stabilizers (Lithium, Valproate):
Used to treat bipolar disorder. Help to stabilize mood swings.

Important Note:
Medication should always be prescribed and monitored by a qualified healthcare professional. Side effects and interactions with other medications are possible.

Types of Psychotherapy

Play Therapy:
Utilizes play to help children express their feelings and resolve emotional conflicts. Commonly used with young children who may have difficulty verbalizing their experiences.

Humanistic Therapy:
Focuses on helping individuals develop self-awareness and reach their full potential. Emphasizes empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness from the therapist.

Example: Client-centered therapy

Exposure Therapy:
A type of behavioral therapy used to treat anxiety disorders. Involves gradually exposing individuals to feared stimuli to reduce anxiety responses.

Example: Used in treatment of phobias and OCD

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):
Combines cognitive and behavioral techniques to help individuals identify and change maladaptive thoughts and behaviors.